Points of Pride
At South Dakota Mines, innovation meets impact. Our community of forward-thinkers is shaping the future with cutting-edge research, hands-on learning, and a commitment to excellence. Here are just a few of the many reasons we stand out.
An Academic Powerhouse
- Top-Tier Education: South Dakota Mines is consistently ranked among the nation’s best engineering schools.
- High ROI: Our grads enjoy top starting salaries, and 97% are employed or in grad school within six months.
- Small Classes, Big Opportunities: A 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio ensures personalized mentorship from expert faculty.
Research that Matters
- Game-Changing Research: From renewable energy to space exploration, we’re solving global challenges.
- Industry Connections: Our partnerships with leading companies ensure our research is practical and forward-thinking.
- World-Class Facilities: Mines is to cutting-edge labs and research centers like the Sanford Underground Research Facility.
Core Value: Hands-On Learning
- Real-World Experience: Internships, co-ops, and fieldwork prepare Mines students and graduates to hit the ground running.
- Capstone and Senior Design Projects: Senior projects tackle real-world industry challenges.
- Tech-Forward Campus: Students have access to advanced equipment and facilities to fuel innovation.
Developing Leaders in Action
- Service and Outreach: Our students give back through thousands of community service hours each year.
- Leadership Development: From student organizations to mentorship programs, we build future leaders.
- Global Reach: Study abroad opportunities and international partnerships provide our students with a global edge.
Strong Outcomes
We’re serious about maximizing our students’ return on investment. In fact, for the past four years, College Factual named South Dakota Mines the best engineering school for the money out of 323 similar schools in the United States. Our graduates work for state agencies, small businesses, and powerhouse companies such as Google, Garmin, Northrop Grumman, Microsoft, NASA, and Amazon.
97% of graduating students were placed in their field in positions across 40 states, Canada, United Kingdom, and Germany with an average starting salary of $77,067.
66% of students complete an internship or co-op and earn on average nearly $10,000 more for their starting salaries than students who did not complete an internship or co-op.
Top Hiring Companies for AY24 Graduates:
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Accolades and Honors
Prestigious Awards
- Fulbright Scholars: Dave LaPorte (2016); and Broc Kokesh (2018)
- Goldwater Scholars: Andrew Farke (2003); Jesse Hinricher (2015); William Trevillyan (2018); and William Jackson “Jack” Carpenter (2019)
- 2x NCAA Google Academic All-American: Justin Barkow (2017 & 2018)
- South Dakota Entrepreneur of the Year: Christian Widener, then-associate professor (2018)
- Governor’s Giant Vision Business Competition:
- First place, student division (2015-2020; 2022-2025)
- First place and four out of the five top finishers, student division (2023)
- First and second places, open division (2025)
University Rankings
- South Dakota Mines was ranked in Forbes Top Colleges for 2026, a prestigious list of the top 500 universities in the nation. Forbes continually ranks Mines as the South Dakota university with the best return on investment.
- The Wall Street Journal listed South Dakota Mines among America's Best Colleges 2026, which ranks undergraduate institutions by the value they provide to students.
- US News and World Report 2026 Best Colleges ranked South Dakota Mines the #6 top regional public university and #9 best college for veterans in the Midwest.
- Niche ranked South Dakota Mines in the top 6% of the best small colleges in the nation and #1 in South Dakota.
- UniversityHQ ranked South Dakota Mines as the #1 overall university in the state to earn a bachelor's degree and a master’s degree.
- As a College of Distinction, South Dakota Mines received recognition in multiple categories including engineering, career development, and military support.
- Research.com honored Mines with its 2026 Best Engineering Degree Programs in South Dakota award for outstanding achievements in engineering education.
Military and Veteran Friendly
Our nation's veterans served our nation with honor, and we work tirelessly to honor their sacrifice. Military Friendly ranks South Dakota Mines third in the United States for veterans while College Factual ranks South Dakota Mines among the top 10% of universities in the nation for veterans. South Dakota Mines has also been ranked the best university in the state for veterans.
Learn more about our Rich and Trudy Wells Veterans Resource Center.
Outstanding Alumni
Our alumni are leaders, innovators, and changemakers making an impact across the globe. From engineering breakthroughs to entrepreneurial ventures, they’re at the forefront of industries like aerospace, energy, technology, and many more. With a network spanning top companies and cutting-edge research institutions, South Dakota Mines graduates are driving progress, solving complex challenges, and shaping the future. Their success stories are a testament to the world-class education and hands-on experience they gained here.
Serious About Success. Passionate About Fun.
Campus Points of Interest
Just having people around that you can talk to and always have someone there, I feel like that’s a really cool thing.
Just having people around that you can talk to and always have someone there, I feel like that’s a really cool thing.
Just having people around that you can talk to and always have someone there, I feel like that’s a really cool thing.
